Jose VARGAS

VARGAS, Jose
Born in Ribeirinha, Faial, Azores, Portugal, passed away at age 76 on November 5, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. Joe immigrated to the Sacramento area in 1959 and has always maintained ties to the community. He has lived in San Leandro since 1970. He worked for the Gomes Linguica Division of the Sara Lee Corporation in San Lorenzo for 31 years until his retirement in 1997. He also ran his own Portuguese Food Distribution Business on weekends throughout the Sacramento vicinity. He is a retired member of the Northern California Meat Cutters and Butcher's Union Local 120. He is a Past President and longtime Board Member, and was a Lifetime Honorary Member of Sociedade do Divino Espirito Santo (S.D.E.S.) of Alvarado in Union City. He also was a founding Board Member of the Our Lady of Fatima Society of San Leandro. Also a longtime member of Sociedade Filarmonica Recreio do Emigrante Portuguese, LUSO-American Fraternal Federation, Irmadade da Nossa Senhora de Fatima of Sacramento, and the Sacramento Portuguese Holy Spirit Society, as well as other Portuguese Cultural organizations. Joe is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Maria Jesus; son Gary and his wife Terrie; son Gilbert; granddaughters, Vanessa Marie & Victoria Rosemarie; and step-grandson Tanner. He is also survived by his brother Antonio and his wife Maria Humberta of Horta Portugal; sisters-in-law, Balbina Vargas, Fatima Moitoso & husband Frank, Terezinha Greves & husband John, and Maria Lourdes Silveira & husband Manuel Jorge; as well as several godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his brother Manuel J. Vargas. Visitation begins Saturday November 12, 2011 from Noon to 5:00pm at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro, CA. The Rosary/Vigil and Funeral Liturgy combined celebrating his life will be on Sunday at 2:30pm at St. Leander Church, 550 W. Estudillo Ave., San Leandro. The funeral procession will leave the church on Monday at 11:00am for interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.